Reviewed by Ian Whitwood

This is a pacey, loud-mouthed tribute to '90s punk which references the band's raison d'etre from the start. This is clearly shown in the opening song "Thumper Punk" - "This is life/You've got to live it strong/You've got to live it true." The EP's theme is pounded out perfectly in "90s Punk Re-visited" and "Riots To Soundtracks" with the refrain "This is the soundtrack of my youth." The standout track is "War Cancer" with a social message ("We are the soldier killed in unjust war/We are the young man who can dream no more") emphasised by powerful vocals from Seth Stephen (otherwise known as Sef Idle) while the thumping drums and edgy guitar riffs lead up to the ironic but passionately declared chorus, "In Christ we have our victory!" The combination of razor sharp vocals and skillful instrumentation make this a noteworthy EP celebrating the memories of punk's past and the sterling work that California's Thumper Punk Records continues to do in supporting that still relevant genre.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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